Today, Congresswoman Kathy Castor (D-FL) and Congressman Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX) reintroduced the MISSION Zero Act to allow the Department of Defense (DoD) to continue assigning trauma surgeons to civilian trauma centers to assist in filling gaps in emergency room care. … Read more »

With heavy hearts, we are deeply saddened to announce the passing of Sam Bell, husband of Betty Castor and stepfather of Congresswoman Kathy Castor, last night after an unexpected health complication. Samuel P. Bell III founded the University of South Florida College of Public Health and was considered the “father” of the institution. He served in the Florida Legislature for… Read more »

Every year during Black History Month, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) pays tribute to community leaders and during this year’s ceremony, she recognized champions in both Tampa and St. Petersburg. Rep. Castor’s written tributes to these community leaders will be memorialized in the Congressional Record and can be read here: Tampa: Celeste Gibbons-Peoples Fred Hearns … Read more »

Florida public schools and their students are at serious risk under the radical tax giveaway scheme being fast-tracked by the Florida Legislature. House Bill 1 and Senate Bill 202 would divert public money for unchecked education “vouchers.” They could cost up to $4 billion in the first year alone. In Hillsborough County, schools would lose an estimated $291 million in the 2023-2024… Read more »

Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor (FL14) reintroduced her bipartisan Florida Coastal Protection Act with Rep. Vern Buchanan (FL16) to make permanent the moratorium on oil drilling off Florida’s coast. “We must do all we can to protect and improve the waters of the Gulf of Mexico and our oceans. In the Sunshine State, clean water and our beautiful beaches are central to our way of life and… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Ms. Celeste Gibbons-Peoples for her nearly four decades of public service to the Tampa Bay community. Her influence in our community follows a tradition of excellence pioneered by her late father, Walter Lee “Dirk” Gibbons, who was a well-known Negro League Baseball player locally and nationally. She has committed her life to telling the… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a true Tampa Bay historian who has served this community with great distinction for many decades. Mr. Charles “Fred” Hearns is one of the foremost historians of Tampa Bay and Florida history. And, since 2021, he has served as the first Curator of Black History for the Tampa Bay History Center (TBHC).   Mr. Hearns was born in the Bronx, NY and grew… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a great educator and leader in the Tampa Bay community, Dr. Davina Arleen Jones.    Dr. Jones is one of six children, born and raised in the Tampa Bay area. Her mother worked for the county library as a book processor and her father was a city bus operator while also serving as a full-time pastor. Dr. Jones’ parents instilled in her and her… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month with immense gratitude for the life of service of veteran and retired educator, Dr. John L. Smith, Jr. Because of Dr. Smith’s long-standing commitment and dedication to education and leadership, higher learning institutions throughout the United States are advancing diversity and inclusion at the highest levels. He charted a course… Read more »

Mr. Speaker, I rise today during Black History Month to celebrate a change agent and one of Tampa Bay’s most accomplished businesswomen, Ms. Bridgette Heller. Ms. Heller was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Fla. She attended segregated schools through elementary school, but credits success during her formative years to being raised by a village of love that had very high standards for… Read more »